Nikita Tregubov shocked at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang. A year earlier, the skeletonist became the bronze medalist of the World Championship, and won silver in Korea. He lost only to local crowd favorite Yoon Sung Bin. To a gifted and disciplined athlete who, in preparation for the Games, received full access to the track, which was closed to competitors.
The Krasnoyarsk citizen dedicated the award to the memory of his grandmother Alexandra Andreevna, which he admitted then: «She was really looking forward to the Olympics. I wanted to see «How I will perform. Unfortunately, it did not work out, due to illness, as is most often the case. She left in May last year. Therefore, I dedicated the medal to her. I think that she still sees everything from above.»
br>
But in the 2022/23 season, Tregubov did not play at any tournament and disappeared for a while. The reason is both simple and terrible at the same time: in September, Nikita fell ill with meningoencephalitis, often leading to death.
«
“Meningoencephalitis is a disease even worse than coronavirus,” said the skeletonist. — I was discovered in early September last year. I just caught a cold and got sick with the usual SARS — throat, nose, high fever. It seems to be on the mend, and after three days he felt complete weakness, there was no strength at all. And in the evening I couldn't even stand up, I didn't realize what was going on around me at all.
“I had a confused mind, I didn’t understand what was happening. They immediately took tests, in this situation they take a puncture from the spine. And, probably, the doctors understood everything right away. Although I didn’t even realize these moments, I didn’t even remember how I was brought to the hospital. I then spent 21 days in the clinic. After such a disease, you can generally remain a vegetable if you don’t react in time. life
After success in Korea, the Russian confirmed his high class, becoming the vice world champion in Canadian Whistler in 2019. And he approached the 2022 Olympics as one of the contenders for victory. But the irreparable happened: the athlete was overtaken by the coronavirus raging all over the world. But the treatment did not bring the desired effect, test after test gave discouraging positive results. “I have bad news. I have to miss the 2022 Olympics. Unfortunately, the PCR test did not show a negative result. Yesterday it became known that there was no chance to be in time. Life goes on, everything that does not kill us makes us stronger «.
Last year, Nikita was overtaken by a new terrible illness, which forced him to forget about sports for a long time. After three weeks in the hospital, the Siberian was treated at home for two more, and then for ten days at the clinic of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) in Moscow. And in February he again flew to the capital for ten days for rehabilitation.
«
“I didn’t really have terrible thoughts then, because when you are sick, you don’t realize it,” Tregubov continued. — Relatives are more worried about you: wife, family, parents. But I didn’t understand anything at all, I said that everything was fine with me: I’m talking, I’m alive. Now Tregubov hopes to return to his beloved work. Stops only one, but the key requirement is the permission of the FMBA to train and participate in starts.
«
“With health, everything seems to be fine, I have already recovered, the doctors say that everything is fine,” said the skeletonist. — When I was examined in Moscow at the end of February, they said that there were no restrictions on playing sports. But back in April I have to undergo UMO (in-depth medical examination) in Krasnoyarsk. And then everything will become completely clear. I feel good, but I can’t know what it will be like after the loads. Especially in our sport, where the tension goes to the head. I don't know this yet, but in ordinary life everything is fine.»
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023 /04/ca13a127cc06f62039bcf33c69eee1e8.jpgHead coach of the Russian national team Denis Alimov highly appreciates Tregubov's chances to return to the previous level.
<br />«</p>
<p>"Nikita needs to pass UMO, competently recover and continue to work, — the specialist emphasized. — He is a serious person, and if he is healthy and ready for training, then we will always be glad to see him in the team. I think that he has the opportunity to return and perform with dignity. From a sporting point of view, he lacked a fairly quick start. Otherwise, he is a talented person and has vast experience in passing various tracks in the world, he is very oriented towards them.</p>
<p>Alimov added that in the history of skeleton when athletes missed a season or two, and then successfully returned.“Our national team doors are not closed to anyone, especially for such an athlete as Nikita Tregubov. But how much you can risk his health, you need to think very carefully about this. If everything goes well for him, he can be included in the Russian national team by the decision of the coaching council.</p>
<p>Saving faith<br />I had to talk in detail with Nikita in the Olympic village of Pyeongchang a couple of days after his triumph. It was amazing that before the starts he always reads a prayer book and listens to the march «Farewell of the Slav».</p>
<p>«</p>
<p>"Farewell Slav" I especially love it, because I marched under it every morning in the cadet corps during the years of study,” said Tregubov. — As you can see, I listened to «Farewell of the Slav» six years and he did not bother me at all (with a smile). And I have my own prayer book, which my mother gave me. He is constantly with me, I read him before the competition.</p>
<p>The athlete is sure that faith helped him succeed in Korea.</p>
<p>"Nothing just happens. I have always been a believer. Faith is an understanding of the correctness of one's life and decency. All in all, the most important thing — I believe. And in order to observe everything, one must be a good and kind person. And do not give away evil from yourself, but good. It will all come back to you later, you also need to understand this. And in ordinary moments, and, of course, in the most difficult moments in my life, I turn to religion,” says Tregubov.</p>
<p>Vera helped Tregubov at important competitions. She did not leave him even when the count of life, perhaps, was already for seconds. I would like to believe that new victories for an extraordinary and strong-willed Siberian are yet to come.</p>
</div></div><div class=)